Public Perceptions of Nuclear Power

Nuclear Power Provides an Imperfect Solution Nuclear Power Station Almost 40 years have passed since a U.S. electric utility last broke ground on a new nuclear power station. Despite this rather extended passage of time, the seemingly slow introduction of attractive alternative renewable energy technologies, a heightened interest in energy independence, and a greater appreciation for the need to...

Electricity Decoupling in the UK

The regulation of the UK electricity distribution industry operates under a system of ex-ante price controls that are, by definition, based on forecasts of expected costs and required revenue. The gas and electricity networks are regulated under an RPI-X framework. This is an incentive-based regulatory framework. Revenue allowances are fixed in advance for a fixed period (typically five years)....

Natural Gas and Electricity Decoupling in the U.S.

As of late 2009, numerous U.S. states have experimented with and fully implemented decoupling. Generally speaking, the natural gas industry is more advanced than the electricity industry, consistent with its longer history of deregulation. The following discussion highlights some of the differences and similarities across these industries and among the variety of regulatory environments with...

Utility Decoupling Approaches and Terminology

There are three generalized approaches to rate decoupling that have been followed by a number of U.S. states, commonly categorized as: Full Decoupling, Partial Decoupling, and Limited Decoupling. Regulatory frameworks in the United Kingdom (UK) are also based on a decoupling strategy. Decoupling is playing an increasing role in utility rate making to promote wider energy efficiency and...

Decoupling: The Key to Incenting Electric Utilities to Promote Energy Efficiency

What is Utility Decoupling? Decoupling allows a utility to separate its regulated revenue from changes in energy sales. Thus, it addresses a potential disincentive to promote energy efficiency. In so doing, decoupling eliminates a critical barrier to increased utility-sponsored investment in cost-effective energy efficiency measures and other clean energy resources by, in effect, mitigating the...

What is the Peak Oil Theory?

What is the Peak Oil Theory? During the 1950′s, and ’1960s, noted geologist M. King Hubbert became world-renowned based on his prediction that the fossil fuel era would end in the relatively near future. He noted that the production of typical oil reservoirs tend to follow a bell-shaped curve, reaching a peak and then declining irreversibly. He predicted in 1956 that U.S. based oil...

The Source of Oil – Is it Biotic or Abiotic?

Drilling for Oil The origin of oil has been the subject of an extended debate since its founding in the mid-19th century. Some professionals believe that oil is primordial – that it dates back to Earth’s origin – and thus was made through an inorganic process. This thesis is characterized as the abiotic (also called abiogenic or inorganic) theory. Others argue that oil was produced...